Young People

It always seems like all we only hear negative things when it comes to young people, especially when they are hanging out and skateboarding at the local park. But I have a different story I wanted to share. I need the assistance of a cane or walker to help me walk. On Nov. 25 I was heading to my weekly evening swimming class at Verdugo Park, where I suddenly felt my walker collapsing and I completely tripped and tumbled down to the ground short of the entrance of the swimming pool.

Congratulations are in order for Burbank, which America’s Promise Alliance — a nationwide nonprofit coalition that includes businesses, elected leaders, educators and faith groups — named among the top 100 cities in the nation for young people. In the end, though, the honor wasn’t all that surprising. Burbank has always been a great place to be young. Burbank, after all, is the place where Mickey Mouse became a powerhouse — making the city a worldwide hub that has helped define youth culture.

Ben Godar A group of Burbank teenagers are looking to improve the relationship between young people and police officers by taking to the public access airwaves. The teens recently completed taping the third episode of "Teen Street Beat," a police-oriented talk show hosted by young people that airs on Burbank TV6. The idea for the show grew out of the city's 2001 youth summit, when poor communication with police was identified as a problem by local teens.

These days, the lead news stories that proliferate in the print and electronic news media capture the profile of youth as dangerous and explosive. These negative stories are presented daily, one right after another. The question always seems to be, "What's wrong with those young people?" On Sunday, June 10, my wife, son and I attended the Burroughs, Burbank and Monterey high schools' baccalaureate celebration. Our daughter, Lauren, graduated from John Burroughs last week.

Isn’t it about time the people of Burbank had a say in who our mayor will be? If ever a time in our history screamed out to change the system, it is now, considering what we have to look forward to in 2011. Once again some of the vindictive City Council members, when not bickering like little children, will play their little game and overlook the most vilified person on the council, and one of Councilman Dave Golonski’s lambs will be appointed mayor. What a travesty!

The Walt Disney Co. employees recently gave a group of young people — most of whom have experienced little happiness in their lives — reason to smile. Specifically, Disney VoluntEARS — an organization membered by employees of the Walt Disney Co. (and its affiliate companies) that supports a broad range of charitable, community efforts — launched a coast-to-coast donation drive to benefit the young men and women served by Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services' Transitional Independent Living Program and its Full Service Partnership for Transitioning Age Young Adults program.

While the goal of playing the board game Monopoly is to acquire and develop as many of a community's transportation and utility companies, properties, houses and hotels as possible, the goal of the Boy & Girls Club is to acquire the needed funding to develop children and young people into productive, responsible and caring members of their community. Working to acquire that funding was just what the Boys & Girls Club of Burbank and the Greater East Valley did by staging its 18th annual gala fundraiser this past Saturday.

Cheers to the class of 2007. Congratulations to this year's graduates for their hard work and accomplishments, as they prepare to tackle the next chapter in their lives. These young lives offer much hope for the rest of us in a world that needs it. We've seen that hope in their faces on the pages of this very newspaper each week. From high school football games to talent shows, these are students who have faced academic life with smiles, curiosity, creativity and determination.

Re: “ Seeking change on the bully pulpit ,” Start the Presses column, Nov. 16. I would note that the blog has not only endorsed but has supported Dr. David Gordon's campaigns throughout the years. I call on Dr. Gordon to publicly state that he does not support the SemiChorus blog , its author or the people commenting there. The articles on the blog that I find most troubling are the countless attacks on anything that deals with Armenian history, bilingual education, and of course those dealing with the tragic car accident that killed five of our young people.

Leadership was in the spotlight Saturday during a conference at Woodbury University in Burbank that looked at the traits and qualities of great leaders. One of those characteristics: They don't seek the limelight. “They shun the attention of celebrity status,” said Luis Ma R. Calingo, Woodbury's new president during the first-time Elevate 2012 conference, which was sponsored by the university and the Homenetmen Glendale Ararat chapter. What's more important, Calingo added, is that a great leader has passion, unwavering resolve and an ability to create an environment where success will continue even after he or she is gone.

It always seems like all we only hear negative things when it comes to young people, especially when they are hanging out and skateboarding at the local park. But I have a different story I wanted to share. I need the assistance of a cane or walker to help me walk. On Nov. 25 I was heading to my weekly evening swimming class at Verdugo Park, where I suddenly felt my walker collapsing and I completely tripped and tumbled down to the ground short of the entrance of the swimming pool.

Re: “ Seeking change on the bully pulpit ,” Start the Presses column, Nov. 16. I would note that the blog has not only endorsed but has supported Dr. David Gordon's campaigns throughout the years. I call on Dr. Gordon to publicly state that he does not support the SemiChorus blog , its author or the people commenting there. The articles on the blog that I find most troubling are the countless attacks on anything that deals with Armenian history, bilingual education, and of course those dealing with the tragic car accident that killed five of our young people.

While the goal of playing the board game Monopoly is to acquire and develop as many of a community's transportation and utility companies, properties, houses and hotels as possible, the goal of the Boy & Girls Club is to acquire the needed funding to develop children and young people into productive, responsible and caring members of their community. Working to acquire that funding was just what the Boys & Girls Club of Burbank and the Greater East Valley did by staging its 18th annual gala fundraiser this past Saturday.

Leadership was in the spotlight Saturday during a conference at Woodbury University in Burbank that looked at the traits and qualities of great leaders. One of those characteristics: They don't seek the limelight. “They shun the attention of celebrity status,” said Luis Ma R. Calingo, Woodbury's new president during the first-time Elevate 2012 conference, which was sponsored by the university and the Homenetmen Glendale Ararat chapter. What's more important, Calingo added, is that a great leader has passion, unwavering resolve and an ability to create an environment where success will continue even after he or she is gone.

Isn’t it about time the people of Burbank had a say in who our mayor will be? If ever a time in our history screamed out to change the system, it is now, considering what we have to look forward to in 2011. Once again some of the vindictive City Council members, when not bickering like little children, will play their little game and overlook the most vilified person on the council, and one of Councilman Dave Golonski’s lambs will be appointed mayor. What a travesty!

The Walt Disney Co. employees recently gave a group of young people — most of whom have experienced little happiness in their lives — reason to smile. Specifically, Disney VoluntEARS — an organization membered by employees of the Walt Disney Co. (and its affiliate companies) that supports a broad range of charitable, community efforts — launched a coast-to-coast donation drive to benefit the young men and women served by Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services' Transitional Independent Living Program and its Full Service Partnership for Transitioning Age Young Adults program.

Congratulations are in order for Burbank, which America’s Promise Alliance — a nationwide nonprofit coalition that includes businesses, elected leaders, educators and faith groups — named among the top 100 cities in the nation for young people. In the end, though, the honor wasn’t all that surprising. Burbank has always been a great place to be young. Burbank, after all, is the place where Mickey Mouse became a powerhouse — making the city a worldwide hub that has helped define youth culture.

BURBANK — For Burbank Unified School District board President Debbie Kukta, being named one of the top 100 communities for young people in the country validated what she already thought about the city. Burbank received the designation Thursday, and was the only city in Los Angeles County to do so. “I grew up here, and I always knew they were always great for youth,” Kukta said. “Burbank is one of those communities that’s a little town in a big city that is evidenced by the investment the community has made in its youth.

M any young people think Christianity is too judgmental, hypocritical and anti-gay, according to new findings by Christian-based research firm The Barna Group. The group reportedly found that church attitudes about people are creating a negative image of the faith among people 16- to 29-year-olds, and thus driving them away. Are you seeing this within your own faith community? And even if it’s not Christian, how do you convey traditional religious messages to youth to keep them interested in the faith?

Cheers to the class of 2007. Congratulations to this year's graduates for their hard work and accomplishments, as they prepare to tackle the next chapter in their lives. These young lives offer much hope for the rest of us in a world that needs it. We've seen that hope in their faces on the pages of this very newspaper each week. From high school football games to talent shows, these are students who have faced academic life with smiles, curiosity, creativity and determination.